Kick the E-mail Habit 30-Day Challenge – Day 1
I don’t plan to post about this challenge every day, but I definitely wanted to talk about Day One! The challenge was to check and answer e-mails in three blocks during the day. I checked at around 7 am, and while there were a few e-mails, none of them were urgent. I checked again around 12 pm, and then 3 pm — and then 7 pm! So I had four e-mail checking periods instead of three. But what I didn’t do was check e-mail every five minutes during the day as usual. I closed out the Gmail tab so I wouldn’t be able to get to my inbox as easily.
As I mentioned in my post Kicking the E-mail Habit earlier this week, in The Soft Addiction Solution, author Judith Wright says that when we indulge in a soft addiction like compulsive e-mail checking (or shopping, or TV watching, or mindless eating), we’re really trying to fulfill a deeper need. By doing the exercises in the book I figured out that my deeper need was for excitement and variety. So today, instead of relying on e-mail to provide those things, I went for a walk in an area of our town that I had never been to before. Also, when I went to Borders (yes, I do go there a lot!), I read a magazine full of iPad tips instead of the usual health magazines. (And then I downloaded a great app recommended in the magazine.)
So: I feel a little anxious not being able to check e-mail as much as I usually do, but I’m learning that (a) when I let e-mail go for a while, nothing bad happens, and (b) when I crave variety there are much better ways to get it than by hoping there’s an exciting e-mail in my inbox.
Those of you who are on the challenge with me: How did you do? Did you figure out what deeper need you were trying to fulfill through compulsive e-mail checking? Did you find a better way to meet that need? Did you manage to keep your checking to three blocks during the day?
And don’t forget that you can join the challenge at any time by posting in the Comments section below! [lf]
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Sep 8, 2010 Motivation, Observations, Personal yammerings, productivity
Well done Linda. I’ll definitely start this. Maybe tomorrow
Good for you! The world will not end if you don’t check for a few hours. Really.
I’m definitely on board with this challenge and started along with you yesterday. I kept to my three-a-day email check-in yesterday. But for today? I’ve already left open my Gmail tab for most of the morning (but once I remembered, closed it down).
I will admit, waking up to 45 new emails was a little nerve-racking, but at least I had something to do with my coffee this morning. My goal alongside this is to also READ my emails, instead of filing away in a folder or ignoring for later. If I’m immediately deleting, I’m unsubscribing — that simple. Email takes up so much of my time, and I’m going to change that!
Thanks for the challenge!
Today is Day One for me. I’ve checked email four times already and it’s only 4pm. =/ But it’s still exponentially better than my continual manic loop. My rat pellet today: a student who thanked me profusely for my agent workshop and sent a glowing testimonial.
C’mon, Melanie, join us! (Insert evil laugh here.) Annette, you’re making progress! I checked more than 3 times yesterday myself, but I did NOT check it compulsively all day. I did it in batched. Mel, I’m with you…I want to GET the e-mails, but not ANSWER them.
Collette, are you sure?
This is my first time commenting on this blog and I must say there is no better time to say “I’m IN” than right now. I definitely have compulsive behavior when it comes to distracting myself from my real goals via checking e-mail and TV watching, even house cleanig (what’s THAT about?!). I am hopeful that this will be the begining of breaking myself from these time-suckers! Thanks so much for this offer…to join you and the others in reclaiming our time and creativity. Good Luck!!! and ONWARD.
Welcome, Sky!
What a great post. I don’t feel I’m too compulsive, but maybe I need to analyze myself a bit further! I know that I tend to check e-mail when I’m looking for a break or a reason to procrastinate on something difficult. I’ve been forcing myself to do the “something difficult” before “rewarding” myself by checking e-mail.